PH, Canada need to resolve ‘waste issue’ soonest

THIS REFERS to the letter titled “On Canada waste: time for Rody to follow up question with action” (Opinion, 8/1/16).

It is important for Filipinos to be aware of the pernicious dumping of foreign-generated wastes in the country—an issue that has been highlighted by the running public debate on the Canada waste—and to arrive at a consensus on how to deal with it. Unless a nation speaks and protests in one voice, it will have difficulty drawing international media attention to issues specific to a particular part of the world.

Compared to the Canada waste issue, the South China Sea dispute is far more in the news and in the consciousness of nations.

Unless the two countries go into a comprehensive dialogue on the issue—in a cordial environment and in the spirit of friendship and cooperation—resolving an important issue like this would be extremely challenging. A joint investigation and a visit to the sites where waste has been “distributed,” and an environment impact assessment may also help in bringing both parties to a common platform for resolving this issue in the proper manner and toward a just conclusion.

It is important for both the Philippines and Canada to hold a dialogue and resolve the issue.

—SAIKAT KUMAR BASU, Apt 6-409, 43 Street South, Lethbridge AB Canada T1J 4B3